West Northamptonshire

West Northamptonshire's population increased by about 29,500 between the last two censuses. This semi-automated article highlights some of the key changes among the local population.

The population reached nearly 380,000

In the decade to 2011, the population of West Northamptonshire increased by 8.5%, from almost 346,000 to 375,000.

The addition of just under 30,000 people means this area's population increased at a similar rate to the overall population of England (up 7.9% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, West Northamptonshire was home to, on average, 2 people per football pitch-sized piece of land.

Population density was similar to the average across the East Midlands

Population density (usual residents per football pitch-sized piece of land) across the East Midlands, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

An older West Northamptonshire

Census 2011 data also show a change in the local population's average age.

Between the last two censuses, the median age of West Northamptonshire increased by two years, from 37 to 39 years.

This area had a slightly lower average age than the East Midlands and had a similar age to the average local authority area across England (39 years of age).

The rise in age was because of an increase of just under 13,000 people between the ages of 60 and 69 years, while the population between 30 and 39 years decreased by almost 5,000.

About 11.0% of people in West Northamptonshire are aged between 60 and 69 years

Percentage of usual residents in England, East Midlands and West Northamptonshire by 10 year age band, March 2001 and March 2011

Religion in West Northamptonshire

The 2011 Census asked a voluntary question about religion. Of those who chose to disclose their religious affiliation, the largest percentage point increase in West Northamptonshire was among those who said they had no religion, rising 11.2 points.

In 2011, 30.0% of respondents in West Northamptonshire gave this answer to the question on religion, compared with 18.8% of those who answered in 2001.

Across the East Midlands, the percentage of people who answered the question on religion that described themselves as having no religion increased from 16.8% to 29.2%, while across England the percentage went from 15.7% to 26.5%.

Of those who disclosed their religion in West Northamptonshire, 64.7% said they were Christian, compared with 78.0% in 2001. About 0.4% said they were Sikh, compared with 0.3% 10 years prior.

The percentage of people who disclosed a religious affiliation and did not state their religion decreased from 8.2% to 7.3%.

In West Northamptonshire, 6.8% chose not to answer the question on religious affiliation, compared with 7.6% in 2001. In East Midlands, 6.8% did not answer the voluntary question, compared with 7.7% in 2001. Across England, 7.2% of people did not answer, compared with 7.7% in 2001.

The population without a religion in West Northamptonshire increased by 11 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents who answered the voluntary question on religion in England, East Midlands and West Northamptonshire by religion, March 2001 and March 2011

Rise in private renting

The percentage of households in West Northamptonshire that rented privately increased from 7.3% to 15.1% in the 10 years leading up to 2011.

In 2011, just over one in seven (14.9%) households lived in social housing, compared with 15.9% in 2001. The percentage of West Northamptonshire households that owned their home decreased from 74.0% to 67.6%.

The proportion of privately rented homes increased faster here than the figure for the whole of the East Midlands (from 8.5% in 2001 to 14.9% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 9.9% to 16.9%.

Private renting in West Northamptonshire increased by 7.8 percentage points

Percentage of households in West Northamptonshire, the East Midlands and England that rented privately, March 2001 and March 2011

Disability in West Northamptonshire

The percentage of West Northamptonshire residents whose day-to-day activities are limited a little by a long-term health problem or disability remained close to 6.7% in the decade leading up to the most recent census.

In 2011, just under 1 in 30 (3.1%) reported being limited a lot in their day-to-day activities, compared with 2.4% in 2001. The percentage of West Northamptonshire residents whose day-to-day activities are not limited by a long-term health problem or disability decreased from 90.9% to 90.2%.

The proportion of people who are slightly limited by a long-term health problem or disability increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the East Midlands (from 7.3% in 2001 to 6.9% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 6.8% to 6.5%.

The proportion of people who are limited a little by a long-term health problem or disability was lower than across the East Midlands

Percentage of usual residents that reported being slightly limited in their day-to-day activities across local authority areas in the East Midlands and the average across England, March 2011

Changing relationships in West Northamptonshire

The percentage of adults in West Northamptonshire that were married decreased from 53.5% to 49.3% in the 10 years leading up to the latest census.

In 2011, just under one in three (32.0%) people aged 16 and over said they were single, compared with 28.4% in 2001. The percentage of adults in West Northamptonshire that had divorced or separated from a married or civil partner increased from 11.1% to 12.5%.

The proportion of married people fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the East Midlands (from 53.4% in 2001 to 48.5% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 50.6% to 46.6%.

The proportion of married people was higher than across the East Midlands

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 and over that said they were married across local authority areas in the East Midlands and the average across England, March 2011

Fewer people worked long hours

The percentage of employed people in West Northamptonshire working more than 49 hours in the week before the census decreased from 14.7% to 11.0% between the last two censuses.

In 2011, just over 1 in 40 (2.8%) people aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) said they had worked less than 16 hours the previous week, compared with 1.8% in 2001.

The proportion of people working long hours fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the East Midlands (from 13.5% in 2001 to 10.0% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 13.0% to 10.1%.

Long hour working in West Northamptonshire decreased by 3.7 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) in West Northamptonshire, the East Midlands and England that said they had worked over 49 hours the week before completing the census, March 2001 and March 2011

Health improved

The percentage of West Northamptonshire residents that described their health as bad or very bad decreased from 7.0% to 4.3% in the decade to 2011.

Rates are standardised to account for variation in age, which can impact the local population's health.

In 2011, just over 8 in 10 (83.7%) said their health was good or very good, compared with 71.8% in 2001. The percentage of West Northamptonshire residents that described their health as fair decreased from 21.2% to 12.1%.

The proportion of residents that perceived their health as bad or very bad fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the East Midlands (from 9.4% in 2001 to 5.7% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 9.1% to 5.5%.

These data are people’s own opinions in describing their overall health. They may be inconsistent with other measures of health, such as NHS records.

The percentage of people in ’bad’ or ’very bad’ health in West Northamptonshire decreased by 2.7 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in West Northamptonshire, the East Midlands and England said their health was bad or very bad, March 2001 and March 2011

Ethnicity in West Northamptonshire

In 2011, 4.3% of West Northamptonshire residents said they were from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups, up from from 2.5% in 2001.

Across the East Midlands, the percentage of people from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups increased from 4.7% to 7.0%, while across England the percentage went from 5.2% to 8.0%.

Around 89.8% of people in West Northamptonshire said they were from one of the White ethnic groups, compared with 94.5% in 2001. About 3.1% said they were from the Black, Black British, Caribbean or African ethnic groups, compared with 1.5% 10 years prior.

The percentage of people who said they were from Mixed/multiple ethnic groups (White and Asian, White and Black African, White and Black Caribbean or Other Mixed) increased from 1.3% to 2.4%.

The population from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups in West Northamptonshire increased by 1.8 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, East Midlands and West Northamptonshire by ethnicity, March 2001 and March 2011

More people cohabiting

The percentage of households in West Northamptonshire, which comprised a cohabiting couple, increased from 9.7% to 10.9% in the 10 years leading up to 2011.

In 2011, just under 3 in 10 (27.9%) households had only one person, compared with 27.1% in 2001. The percentage of households in West Northamptonshire which comprised a married couple (with or without children) decreased from 40.7% to 36.3%.

The proportion of households with an unmarried couple increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the East Midlands (from 8.7% in 2001 to 10.5% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 8.3% to 9.9%.

The percentage of households with a cohabiting couple was higher than across the East Midlands

Percentage of households that had an unmarried couple across local authority areas in the East Midlands and the average across England, March 2011

Rise in rate of unemployment

The percentage of West Northamptonshire residents that were unemployed increased from 2.6% to 3.8% in the decade leading up to the most recent census.

In 2011, just under 6 in 10 (57.0%) people aged 16 to 74 said they were employed, compared with 58.9% in 2001. The percentage of West Northamptonshire residents that were self-employed increased from 8.6% to 10.0%.

The proportion of unemployed people increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the East Midlands (from 3.4% in 2001 to 4.2% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 3.4% to 4.4%.

The rate of unemployment in West Northamptonshire increased by 1.2 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 in West Northamptonshire, the East Midlands and England that said they were unemployed, March 2001 and March 2011

Changes in family structure

The percentage of households in West Northamptonshire without children increased from 60.1% to 60.6% in the 10 years leading up to the latest census.

The percentage that had at least one dependent child remained close to 31.2%, while the percentage of households in West Northamptonshire with only adult children living with their parents increased from 8.7% to 8.8%.

The proportion of households without children increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the East Midlands (from 61.3% in 2001 to 62.1% in 2011). Across England, the percentage remained close to 61.2%.

The proportion of households without children was lower than across the East Midlands

Percentage of households without children across local authority areas in the East Midlands and the average across England, March 2011

Change in unpaid care

The percentage of West Northamptonshire residents that provided between 20 and 49 hours of weekly unpaid care increased from 0.8% to 1.1% between the last two censuses.

The percentage who reported providing at least 50 hours of unpaid care each week remained close to 1.6%.

The proportion of people providing between 20 and 49 hours of weekly unpaid care increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the East Midlands (from 1.2% in 2001 to 1.4% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 1.1% to 1.4%.

The proportion of people providing between 20 and 49 hours of weekly unpaid care in West Northamptonshire remained close to 1.1%

Percentage of usual residents in England, East Midlands and West Northamptonshire by care, March 2001 and March 2011

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